We will take the moral high ground if you give us the money says the Beeb

Mark Thompson's interview in the Guardian this morning suggests that the BBC is trying to re enter the moral high ground as a public broadcaster.

Looking to put the corporations annus horibilis behind him,he suggests that the government must be prepared to fund the public broadcasting sector

There' s no point crying crocodile tears about less public service broadcasting, What quantity of public service broadcasting do you want and how is it to be paid for?"

The interview also hints at a promise to move the BBC upmarket with more investment in reporting from Westminster and local politics,as well as themed blocks of programming on immigration,global warming and civil liberties.